Chapter 19
I light my cigarette and watch from my dark corner, inhaling another lungful of smoke. I’m not supposed to smoke, but no one approaches me; the mean look on my face most likely keeps the other people away.
She’s laughing again, whispering to her friend. They are lost in their own world, twirling, giggling, and shaking their asses. So fucking young.
She leans over and, son of a bitch, her ass cheek is visible.
There are no panty lines. It could be a thong.
The thought that she might not be wearing panties is explosive.
That flash of skin was quick, but it was enough for me to be on full alert.
I should spank her ass for that bullshit.
That glimpse of smooth skin belongs to me.
My eyes meet Riggs, and he smirks, smug bastard. He looks at Jace, who is preoccupied with his woman, cuddling her pregnant belly, rocking with her. When he starts kissing her, a surge of envy envelopes me.
I turn away from it and go back to watching her. Always her.
Riggs catches my eye again, and I shrug.
My behavior is no secret to him. And he’s doing his fair share of watching.
The beautiful Black woman, Jacqueline, gives him what he wants, but he lets her see him, while I have to stay in the shadows because I can’t let others see me watching her.
I never know who’s watching, not to mention her brother.
The target on my back is always visible for those who may know who I am.
Wearing my cut is risky. Flashing club insignias could put all the people here with us in danger.
The Mestizos’ reach is broad and deep, like an octopus, tentacles wrapped around all echelons of life, including the rich, the entitled, and yes, even the politicians.
I almost crush my cigarette between my fingers when I notice lobster shirt douche threading his way through the crowded dance floor towards Camryn.
The moment he touches her ass, he’s dead.
It doesn’t matter that Camryn is holding her own and pushing him away.
He leans too close, not heeding her message.
The stupid fucker lost his chance. She saved him the first time, but now he won’t be so lucky.
My knife is in my hand in seconds. I approach him, slowly so as not to startle him.
I want his death to be unexpected. I position myself right up to his side and hold him steady while I sentence him to death.
“She told you no, but you were too stupid to listen. No one touches her but me. In a few seconds, my knife is going to puncture your right lung.” I quickly jab my knife into his side.
He doesn’t flinch the way I’d hoped. Oh well.
He’s too drunk or high to feel it. I keep the angle up, pressing just beneath his ribs.
I remove it just as quickly and tuck it in my back.
His blood is cold against my skin. I smile in pleasure when I hear the distinct hiss.
The beautiful bubbling sound from air escaping the wound.
He doesn’t have long. The injury is life-threatening.
The knowledge that soon he will be dead is enough to soothe the beast inside me.
Onyx approaches me. His trained eyes focus on the lobster guy. I nod. “Escort him outside.” He raises his eyebrows and holds onto the man, pulling him away. The red spot on his shirt from my knife wound blends in with the lobster all over his shirt. Perfect. Let him bleed out there.
No one is watching the tall Black man usher out a man who is weaving on his feet. Just the security guard removing another man who couldn’t hold his liquor.
I turn back to Camryn, and she’s exactly where I left her.
The look she gives me makes me want to take her out of her and back to my cabin, but it’s not to be.
Her nipples are hard under her polka dot shirt, and I know she’s naked under it, too.
Christ. I move closer, leaving only inches between our bodies.
The music makes it hard for her to hear me.
I lean closer to her, brushing my mouth against the soft shell of her ear, drawing in a floral scent that I recognize.
It is the same one she was wearing the night of Silas’s wedding.
“Don’t let him stop you.”
“What?” she whispers. “Who?”
“Dance.”
I walk away and blend back into the shadows to watch my Countess dance for me.
She turns and peers through the darkness, trying to find me. I don’t know how she knows my exact location, but she dances for me and I watch her, enjoying the show.
A commotion a few feet away has the hair on the back of my neck standing on end.
Playtime is over. Something is happening, and I reach for the blood-stained knife behind my jacket.
I move through the crowd to reach her; the need to ensure Camryn’s safety is paramount in my mind.
My eyes find her red skirt, and I stand behind her.
She doesn’t notice that most of the people surrounding us are too busy focused on the shouting match between the tall blonde, named Tatum, if I remember correctly, and the beautiful woman with the purple glasses.
“Take her home and fuck her all night!”
“What woman!? Jesus Christ, you don’t get it!” He paces, rage radiating off him.
“Get what, Tate?! What is your problem?!”
“You want to know what my problem is?!” His hand snakes out, quick as a cobra, and wraps around her thin arm.
“Tatum, you’re hurting me!”
When he grabs her arm, I wonder if I’ll have to step in, but he looks horrified despite his fury and lets her go before cursing and mumbling.
Storming through the crowd. Silas Kenzington ushers past us, his burly arm protectively around his pregnant wife, guiding her towards the door.
Jace Park is not far behind with his arms wrapped around Sophia.
Riggs is still watching Jacqueline. Onyx is long gone, most likely disposing of that asshole’s body.
Camryn turns around and bumps into me. I steady her, relishing the feel and smell of her. Before I can stop myself, I tell her. “I’ll give you a ride.”
Her eyes get bigger, and she blinks rapidly. “You want me to get on your bike?”
“You scared?”
She rolls her eyes and crosses her arms. “No. Just not dressed for a bike ride.”
My eyes travel down to her bare legs and the red skirt. “Just keep your legs away from the muffler,” I say, waiting for her, my body tight with the need to have her touch me.
She lifts her chin as she turns to me, but Lara steps in, leaning down to whisper in her ear.
The redhead looks at me, stance protective.
I cross my arms, wondering if she’ll try to stop Camryn.
She did the night of the wedding, and I let it go then.
She belongs to Sloane, but I won’t tolerate her interfering.
Camryn turns away from her friend and matches my stance. “Okay.”